Published online Feb 16, 2015. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v3.i2.171
Peer-review started: July 29, 2014
First decision: September 18, 2014
Revised: December 10, 2014
Accepted: December 29, 2014
Article in press: January 15, 2015
Published online: February 16, 2015
Processing time: 191 Days and 14.3 Hours
AIM: To assess the correlation between blood pressure levels and fasting plasma glucose levels among young adults attending Chatrapati Shahuji Maharaj University, Kanpur, India.
METHODS: The present study was cross-sectional in nature, conducted among students in the Institute of Paramedical Sciences, Chatrapati Shahuji Maharaj University, Kanpur. Study subjects included 185 young adults. Among them, 94 were males and 91 were females, in the age group 17 to 19 years.
RESULTS: Mean age among males was 18.5 ± 1.5 years and among females was 17.9 ± 1.8 years. Of the total 185 study subjects, 61 (32.9%) were classified as pre-diabetic and 20 (10.8%) as pre-hypertensive. Mean waist circumference, systolic blood pressure and serum high density lipoprotein did not vary significantly between normoglycemic and pre-diabetic subjects. However, the mean diastolic blood pressure of pre-diabetics (82 ± 5 mmHg) was significantly higher than normoglycemics (79 ± 6 mmHg). Mean serum cholesterol, serum triglycerides, serum low density lipoprotein (LDL) and serum very low density lipoprotein was also higher among pre-diabetic subjects in comparison to normoglycemic subjects and the difference was statistically significant. Upon multiple linear regression analysis, it was observed that body mass index (BMI) (β = 0.149), diastolic blood pressure (β = 0.375) and serum LDL (β = 0.483) were significantly associated with fasting plasma glucose. Multiple linear regression with diastolic blood pressure as the outcome variable showed that BMI (β = 0.219), fasting blood glucose (β = 0.247) and systolic blood pressure (β = 0.510) were significantly associated.
CONCLUSION: A significant prevalence of pre-diabetes and pre-hypertension in young adults is a matter of concern therefore all young adults need to be targeted for screening of diabetes and hypertension and lifestyle modification.
Core tip: In the present study, 32.9% young adults were pre-diabetic whereas 10.8% were pre-hypertensive. Around 2.7% young adults had both pre-diabetes and pre-hypertension. Among the pre-hypertensives, 25% also had pre-diabetes. However among the pre-diabetics, 8.2% had pre-hypertension. The correlation between systolic blood pressure and fasting plasma glucose was not statistically significant. However, the correlation between diastolic blood pressure and fasting plasma glucose was significant. The mean diastolic blood pressure of pre-diabetics (82 ± 5 mmHg) was significantly higher than normoglycemics (79 ± 6 mmHg). Upon multiple linear regression analysis, it was observed that body mass index (β = 0.149), diastolic blood pressure (β = 0.375) and serum LDL (β = 0.483) were significantly associated with fasting plasma glucose.